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A. Criteria for Determining Designation in the Register. Any building, structure, site, object, or district may be designated for inclusion in the Cle Elum register of historic places if it is significantly associated with the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or cultural heritage of the community; if it has integrity; is at least fifty years old, or is of lesser age and has exceptional importance; and if it falls in at least one of the following categories:

1. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of national, state, or local history;

2. Embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of a type, period, style, or method of design or construction, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;

3. Is an outstanding work of a designer, builder, or architect who has made a substantial contribution to the art;

4. Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city’s cultural, special, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, or architectural history;

5. Is associated with the lives of persons significant in national, state, or local history;

6. Has yielded or may be likely to yield important archaeological information related to history or prehistory;

7. Is a building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is the only surviving structure significantly associated with an historic person or event;

8. Is a birthplace or grave of an historical figure of outstanding importance and is the only surviving structure or site associated with that person;

9. Is a cemetery that derives its primary significance from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events, or cultural patterns;

10. Is a reconstructed building that has been executed in a historically accurate manner on the original site;

11. Is a creative and unique example of folk architecture and design created by persons not formally trained in the architectural or design professions, and which does not fit into formal architectural or historical categories.

B. Process for Designating Properties or Districts to the Cle Elum Register of Historic Places.

1. Any person may nominate a building, structure, site, object, or district for inclusion in the Cle Elum register of historic places. Members of the historic preservation commission or the commission as a whole may generate nominations. In its designation decision, the commission shall consider the Cle Elum historic inventory and the Cle Elum comprehensive plan.

2. In the case of individual properties, the designation shall include the UTM reference and all features – interior and exterior – and outbuildings that contribute to its designation.

3. In the case of districts, the designation shall include description of the boundaries of the district; the characteristics of the district which justifies its designation; and a list of all properties including features, structures, sites, and objects which contribute to the designation of the district.

4. The historic preservation commission shall consider the merits of the nomination, according to the criteria in subsection (A) of this section and according to the nomination review standards established in rules, at a public meeting. Adequate notice will be given to the public, the owner(s) and the authors of the nomination, if different, and lessees, if any, of the subject property prior to the public meeting according to standards for public meetings established in rules and in compliance with Chapter 42.30 RCW, Open Public Meetings Act. Such notice shall include publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Cle Elum and posting of the property. If the commission finds that the nominated property is eligible for the Cle Elum register of historic places, the commission shall make recommendation to the Cle Elum city council that the property be listed in the register with the owner’s consent. In the case of historic districts, the commission shall consider a simple majority of property owners to be adequate for owner consent. Owner consent and notification procedures in the case of districts shall be further defined in rules. The public, property owner(s) and the authors of the nomination, if different, and lessees, if any, shall be notified of the listing.

5. Properties listed on the Cle Elum register of historic places shall be recorded on official zoning records with an “HR” (for Historic Register) designation. This designation shall not change or modify the underlying zone classification.

C. Removal of Properties from the Register. In the event that any property is no longer deemed appropriate for designation to the Cle Elum register of historic places, the commission may initiate removal from such designation by the same procedure as provided for in establishing the designation, in subsection (B) of this section. A property may be removed from the Cle Elum register of historic places without the owner’s consent.

D. Effects of Listing on the Register.

1. Listing on the Cle Elum register of historic places is an honorary designation denoting significant association with the historic, archaeological, engineering, or cultural heritage of the community. Properties are listed individually or as contributing properties to a historic district.

2. Prior to the commencement of any work on a register property, excluding ordinary repair and maintenance and emergency measures defined in CEMC Section 15.22.060(B), the owner must request and receive a certificate of appropriateness from the commission for the proposed work. Violation of this rule shall be grounds for the commission to review the property for removal from the register.

3. Prior to whole or partial demolition of a register property, the owner must request and receive a waiver of a certificate of appropriateness.

4. Once the City of Cle Elum is certified as a certified local government (CLG), all properties listed on the Cle Elum register of historic places may be eligible for special tax valuation on their rehabilitation, as provided in CEMC Section 15.22.070.

(Ord. 1229 § 3 (Exh. C), 2005)